toddler won't stay in bed and can climb the stairgate.

[BettyFriedansLoveChild]

DD (23 months) has recently started refusing to go to sleep unless one of us sits with her. She was previously a good self-settler. If we try to leave the room she jumps out of bed and comes running out to find us. (We had to take the side off her cot bed a few months ago as she was starting to try to climb over it). We can spend up to two hours a night returning her to bed, and she thinks its a big game. After a bit of mumsnet research we decided a stair gate across her bedroom door was the way to go, and installed it last night. Tonight she has learnt to climb over it. WTF do we do now, other than sit with her every night until she sleeps?

Our also 23 month old has just moved into a bed and does the same thing we took the stairgate off as she started throwing herself over it! We've taken it off and when she comes down we don't talk to her no eye contact and lead her back to bed. Eventually(!) she gives up as there is no positive reinforcement. I would try that it might 50 times the first night but she'll get it eventually. My 23 month old now can't be bothered to get out of bed and just screams her head off in bed!

Sit with her every night.

Then gradually retreat once she's settled down.

This is the age that fears can start to set in but they can't quite tell you as they don't know the words/feelings. My youngest is just 2 and I've noticed she's a bit wary of the dark now.